Anhingas are birds found in warm areas of North and South America. These fish-eaters have a unique way of capturing their meals – they swim in rather shallow water and spear swimming fish. Then they emerge at the surface and flip the fish into the air in order to catch it head first. If successful, they then swallow the fish. If unsuccessful, they try again. Natives in South America saw them do this and believed that the Anhinga was “playing” with the fish and in their language the Anhinga was known as the “Devil Bird”. The name “Anhinga” apparently comes from the Tupi Indian language. Other natives saw the Anhinga swimming with only its head and long neck out of the water and thought it was a snake – hence their name for it was the equivalent of “Snake Bird”.

The Muscovy Duck is an American bird – mostly South American in the wild, but an introduced exotic bird in Florida and elsewhere around the world. These large ducks were domesticated by humans in South America at least by the 1500s. Once discovered by humans from elsewhere, they were taken to humans around the world as a source of meat and eggs. Muscovy Ducks are large, were used to living with humans, and they quickly became popular.

The Loggerhead Shrike is a songbird – but also a predator not only on insects, but also on lizards, small snakes, tree frogs, mice, and small birds. It is resident in Florida and across southern states, but northern populations must migrate and many augment our resident population each winter, gradually disappearing beginning in late January as they slowly move north to their breeding areas.

What’s in a name? If it’s the name of the Florida Red-bellied Cooter, there’s a lot! This freshwater (and occasionally brackish water) turtle is found in calm water through most of Florida and into southern Georgia. “Red-bellied” describes most young adults, but as they age, their belly changes color and can be brown or yellow. And that name “cooter” – where did it come from and what does it mean? The name “cooter” is centuries old and it seems likely that it was the name used by slaves from west Africa. In their language, the name for turtle – is today spelled “kuta” and pronounced like “cooter.

Gray Squirrels are our most common squirrel and are with us year-round. They have a diversity of adaptations for survival and are sometimes considered a scourge if they nest in an attic, munch on fruits, or take the food we put out for wintering birds. They vary seasonally in color – mostly gray in winter, more brown in summer allowing them to better blend in with seasonal changes in vegetation. The openness of winter habitats and the proliferation of bird feeders often make these squirrels easier to observe.

Pigeons and Doves are members of the same family – Columbidae – and the names “pigeon” and “dove” have little relevance. Those we call “pigeons” are generally larger than those we call doves. Pigeons and doves occur on every continent and many islands and about 300 living species of pigeons and doves are known. Seven species are regularly found in Florida -- five are native; two are introduced. Others are occasionally seen. One – the Passenger Pigeon – was known from Florida, but now extinct.

Animals in south Florida don’t have to worry much about winter cold – and indeed many migrants from areas farther north find suitable living conditions here. But, a trip to the beach or on a rare blustery day sometimes makes one wonder. How do ducks, herons, egrets, and other birds tolerate wading or swimming in cold weather? Aquatic birds, for example, have bare skinny legs with leg muscles placed among insulating feathers. Blood vessels going to and from the very few muscles in the legs and feet lie right next to one another, and cold blood going back into the body is warmed by warmer blood coming from the body – and is nearly the same temperature as the blood circulating in the well-insulated body.

If asked “What plant best symbolizes the winter season?”, most people might say “Christmas trees”, but a fair number might instead suggest holly. Several species of holly are native to North America. Most are evergreen, have thick, somewhat shiny leaves that are resistant to colder climates, and are bordered and tipped with sharp points that protect the leaves from winter plant “munchers”, and in winter bear small red fruits that add to their winter holiday appeal. The fruits are eaten by many bird species and the seeds inside the fruits are deposited with a bit of fertilizer to begin growth in the spring. Some holly species grow into large trees. Others remain shrub-sized. Many are sold and planted throughout North America – including in south Florida. But the only holly that is native to south Florida is dahoon holly – generally a small tree or shrub that is at home in shaded wetlands such as at Corkscrew Sanctuary and areas within the Everglades ecosystem. While dahoon holly has thick, heavy, evergreen leaves – characteristic of hollies, dahoon holly leaves have a pointed tip, but are relatively long and have no pointed barbs along the leaf blades as on the leaves of other holly species.

New World Warblers are often referred to as the “butterflies of the bird world” – a designation because of their small size and diverse colors and patterns. A few warblers nest in south Florida, but several -- including the Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Black-and-white Warbler are common winter residents. These three have distinctive plumage patterns and behaviors, making them a great trio to begin exploring the diversity of warblers that pass through on migration. Beware, however: watching warblers as they flit among the branches of tall trees in search of insects can be addictive – and lead to a temporary affliction commonly known among birders as “warbler neck”.

Little Blue Herons are medium in size among herons – bigger than a Green Heron, but much smaller than a Great Blue Heron. The “blue color” of adults often tends towards gray and it helps them blend in with their aquatic environment. This heron is unusual in that its juvenile plumage is all white – a characteristic that allows it to blend in with other white birds – which it readily does, thus gaining “group” protection from potential predators and access to food resources found by the other species. Adults are much more solitary.